May 13, 2012

Collinsview Neighborhood Association Warning

Because of our land use agreement we are not allowed to drop off our students in the adjacent neighborhoods.  I have been warned that we are violating the terms of our land use agreement.  The neighborhood voices that some of us have been rude when approached by Collinsview Neighborhood Association members.  It is our responsibility to use the high school parking lot (as congested as it is) as our ONLY drop off/pick up site.  The land use agreement is a legal document that defines the terms that make us welcome to use the premise.  In order to avoid high-level issues of concern, DO NOT DROP YOUR CHILDREN OFF ON NEIGHBORING STREETS.  Your cooperation in this is greatly appreciated.

May 22^nd at 7:00 pm -  Parent Presentation - The Teeanage Brain -
Dr. Stevens - RHS - Maverick Room

You are welcome to participate in Dr. Steven’s presentation at the High School. 

The Teenage Brain: A User’s Guide

Alexander A. Stevens, Ph. D

Departments of Psychology and Behavioral Neuroscience (OHSU)

Below are some highlights of the presentation our students were provided. 

Dr. Stevens, a cognitive neuroscientist at OHSU focused his presentation on

attention and memory, and how brain changes in teens effects how they make

decisions. He discussed how the conscious and unconscious parts of our brains

effect decision-making. He presented information about the brain and decision-

making factually, not moralistically, which most of the audience, if not all,

appreciated.

The presentation began with a detailed description of brain function and

how the workings of the brain are discovered through the use of Magnetic

Resonance Imaging. It has been determined through MRIs that adolescents make

better decisions on their own than they do when they are with friends. This is due

to over-activity in the ventral straeum caused by stress and peer interaction.

Because the prefrontal cortex of the teen brain is underactive, the over-activity of

the reward pathways in the ventral straeum, which tell the brain when we’re doing

something right, takes over and determines behavior. So if a teen is doing

something pleasurable, the reward center of the brain (ventral straeum) responds to

the stimuli in a positive way, generating positive feelings, which can cause the teen

to repeat the behavior.

In terms of drug use, students were given a straightforward explanation of

how the brain acts like a thermostat on drugs. It works to return to “normal” when

under the influence of drugs or alcohol. As the rush goes away the craving for the

positive effect persists. This can lead to tolerance and eventually addiction. Over

time the negative effects of the drug become greater. When drugs or alcohol are no

longer being used, the body and brain experience withdrawal symptoms. These can

be moderate to intense depending on the drug. Alcohol withdrawal is the only kind of

withdrawal that can kill because it can produce seizures.

The factors that affect drug use are: behavior, biology/genes (having a

particular code of genes makes a person more susceptible to addiction), gender,

environment (home, peer attitude, parent attitude), brain mechanism (prefrontal

cortex, ventral straeum) and dependence. Of all of the available drugs the most

dangerous are alcohol and tobacco, and they’re legal.

The final message of the presentation was an invitation to students to do one

thing that scares them every day. The only caveat was the final note to students that

only they know the difference between risks that are dangerous, scary and stupid.

The leading causes of death in 15 – 19 year-olds are bad decisions.  The presenter was thoughtful, intelligent and informative without being “preachy”. He offered students information to make good decisions based on facts and information, not because they are being told what to do. The students and staff appreciated the straightforward message of Dr. Stevens.

Parking on campus

Many students have earned their license, but there are no more parking spots available.  Staff are not allowed to use the neighborhood streets to park, due to the Collinsview land use agreement and they need their parking spots.  Unless your student has an approved parking permit to park on campus they are not allowed to do so.

Attendance

If your student needs to leave early, is gone, or absent for any reason we need to be informed early in the day.  Please call Sam to report attendance.  This is for safety and to nip spring fever in the bud.

Scheduling

During the month of April and into May a team of ten (parents, staff and a student) worked to analyze our current schedule as well as several other potential schedules for cost effectiveness, rich transcript opportunities and student to teacher face- to-face time.  Through much research and analysis it was determined that through our current five-period trimester block schedule we are able to provide the best opportunities for our students with our current resources (thank you by-the-way for your contributions we are able to continue with current staffing next year!).  If you have specific questions regarding the process or the research please call me for further clarification.

Senior check out!

Spring has arrived and the school end is fast approaching. In order to release your student’s grades, transcript, and diploma, each student must check out.  They must demonstrate the following are current:

• All late student fees of $60.00 due last September are paid.
• Outstanding field studies fees due in March are paid.
• All textbooks are turned in and/or paid for if lost.
• All library books are turned in and/or paid for if lost.
• Sports uniforms turned into the coach or Athletic Dept.
• Any outstanding school Tuition paid in full.

In addition, all 12th graders must request a final transcript to be sent to the college/university by submitting a request to Sam, Ms. Teeter or Mr. Murray.

Senior Exhibitions - Senior Exhibitions begin May 21 -- This culminating work of our senior class includes a public presentation.  Please click here to view the schedule.

Amy W's Award

In April 2012, Amy W was awarded national winner for National Center for Women and Information Technology (NCWIT) Aspirations in Computing in Charlotte, NC.  This award honors young women at the high school level for their computing related achievements and interests.  Amy was selected for her computing and IT aptitude, leadership ability, academic history and plans for post-secondary education.

RHS Library Book Swap

Wednesday-Friday, May 30, 31 & June 1, 2012

You Can Help NOW:

It is not too early to help the RHS Library Book Swap.  This sale is the official kick-off for Summer Reading, and we need your used books.

How It Works:

1. Clean out your bookshelves with the bookswap in mind: appropriate adult and YA fiction, mysteries, historical fiction, sci-fi, graphic novels, non-fiction such as history, current events, cookbooks, travel, art, pets, psychology, sports, essays, philosophy, biography, CDs, & DVDs.
2. Bag it!  Bring in your donations (starting now) in a bag or box that is clearly marked with your name. 
3. 3 =1:  We give you one book credit for every three items you donate.  So, if you donate 12 items, you earn enough points to “buy” 4 books/cds/dvds at the sale.  The more you bring in, the better the choices for everyone.
4. On the first day of the sale, only those who donated items are allowed to select items.  If you run out of points, you may purchase a title for $.50 for paperback, $1 for hardback/cd/dvd.  On the second and third days, everyone is welcome and all titles will for available for sale at these great prices.

This sale is not designed to raise money, but we sometimes make enough to purchase a nice assortment of popular paperbacks to loan for Summer Reading.

Questions or comments to Kate Loggan, kloggan@riverdale.k12.or.us or 503.2624844

Student Opportunities

Parents of ninth graders:  if your student has interest in studying abroad through Rotary Youth Exchange, now is the time to contact the Rotary chapter near you.   Applications are due in November of the sophomore year; students study abroad their junior year.   Scholarships are available.   For more information: http://www.rotarypdx.org/youth_exchange.html